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Booming movie business in wake of TV switch off


Outlets selling downloaded movies have been having a field day since Saturday after the Communication Authority switched off analogue transmission of TV signals.

A spot check by Nairobi News revealed long queues at movie stalls after work hours, with customers seeking latest movies and television series.

Josphat Kimani, who works at Bluelite Entertainment located on Moi Avenue, said their sales increased exponentially since the switch off.

“It has been advantageous for us because viewers can’t access their favorite local programs and they are now watching movies,” he said.

Josphat, who has been running the movie stall for years, added that for the first time more customers are placing orders on a Monday.

20 PER CENT INCREASE

“If you compare the sales last week on Monday to what we got this week its an increase of about 20 per cent and am seeing it increasing further if the switch-off goes on,” he said.

Other movie stalls in town also had more customers placing orders, with some even stating that they have nothing to watch except the movies.

A movie downloaded and copied in a DVD at a regular city movie stall costs about Sh50

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) used armed police officers on Saturday to forcefully switch off the analogue signals of the three leading TV stations in Kenya, NTV, KTN and Citizen.

The move follows a ruling Friday (February 13) by the Supreme Court that allowed the authority to proceed with its set switch-off dates.

The stations were taken off-air on Saturday mid-morning.